Electronic payment systems and wallets for depositing and withdrawing money from the Internet. Payment systems What payment systems exist

Good afternoon dear friends. After analyzing the information that you can see on our website, we came to the conclusion that one extremely important aspect of successful financial activity in international markets had previously remained beyond our attention.

We are talking about such things as electronic payment systems on which traders store funds and to which they withdraw profits received from trading. Which system is most convenient to use? Where are the safety and reliability indicators the highest, and where are the fees acceptable? Let's figure it out.

So, before moving on to considering specific services and systems, I propose to give them a general description and say a few words about the mechanism of their operation.

Thus, the extremely simplified process of operation of the electronic payment system fits into the following algorithm:

1. Client, i.e. you, me and another 90% of Internet users transfer a certain amount of money in real currency to the account of the issuer (payment system), receiving for this virtual currency in an amount equivalent to the transfer amount. The act of exchanging real currency for virtual fixes the debt obligations of the issuer to the client.
2. The client replenishes his trading or investment account with virtual currency in the personal account of the trading broker (you can find a list of their best representatives on our website). Thus receiving “real money”, which can be increased by conducting speculative or investment operations on Forex and the stock market.
3. The broker returns the electronic currency to its issuer, receiving real money for it.

In the end, everyone wins. Clients receive a fast and safe way to replenish their deposit, the broker receives a new client, and the payment system receives its own commission, which is paid by both the client and the broker (more on them later).

I think there is no need to name the advantages of electronic currencies, such as simplicity and ease of use, high speed of payment transactions, unlimited service life, etc. Everyone already knows them, it’s better to pay attention to the criteria that should be followed when choosing a payment system, so as not to get lost in the sea of ​​offers and choose a truly reliable option.

Selection criteria for payment systems

I will briefly list them, without a detailed description, because... it's obvious.

1. Year founded and length of service. Naturally, the larger it is, the higher the level of trust.
2. Types of contracts, i.e. connectivity options for individuals and legal entities, residents and non-residents of the country where the company is registered. Pay special attention to the latter; companies do not always offer the same conditions to citizens of different countries.
3. Tariffs, limits and commissions for transfers.
4. Security (link to phone number, email address, full name, etc.).
5. Reviews online.

In principle, nothing complicated. Usually all this information is available on the company’s official website and registration agreement. And reviews are easy to find online.

Technological development in the payments industry places a strong emphasis on innovation, convenience, and improved process efficiency. Both small businesses (online stores) and large companies engaged in brokerage activities are faced with the need to accept payments. It is important to get a reliable partner who will ensure effective competition in the current conditions of the e-commerce market.

Neteller

Recently, Skrill is not inferior in popularity. Operating in more than 200 countries for 10 years now.

It differs from the previous one in a slightly smaller number of currencies (23) and much higher fees for transfers to other payment systems, for example, to transfer money from Neteller to Qiwi you will have to pay about 8% of the amount. There are also commissions within the system, but they are small and set at tenths of a percent.

Among the advantages it is worth noting:

• the opportunity to receive VIP status immediately upon registration;
• Net+ MasterCard card is available for all CIS countries and allows you to withdraw money from all ATMs in the world;
• increased limits on transfers and withdrawals;
• high security.

As for cooperation with brokers, we can say that almost all companies accept payments from Neteller, with minimal (and sometimes non-existent) commissions.

The security of the system is also at a decent level; all payments require confirmation. But verification is absolutely necessary, without it it will not be possible to work normally.

PayPal

Probably the most famous payment system in the world, which currently has more than 200 million active accounts. It operates all over the world, but is most popular in the USA. But in Russia, for some reason, it is not as popular as the previous two.

Accounts can be opened in 25 currencies, and there is nothing to say about the security level of PayPal, the highest indicators, the account is almost impossible to hack. Transfer fees are low.

But, due to the relatively low popularity of this system in post-Soviet countries, sometimes a problem arises that is the opposite of what happened with Qiwi and WebMoney, when foreign brokers accept payments in PayPal, but domestic ones do not. And this happens quite often. Even, which seems to have everything, introduced PayPal payments relatively recently, and charged such commissions that it is simply unprofitable to use it.

Results

In general, to summarize, we can say that all payment systems mentioned in this article are reliable and safe. The conditions for working with them are also, in general, similar, with the exception of the issue of limits and a 1-2% error in transfer fees. Well, decide which option to choose by consulting with representatives of your trading broker, or by looking at the list of systems supported by it on the official website. That's all for now, see you next time.

Best regards, Nikita Mikhailov

Any Internet payment system is a special technology that allows you to make various payments on the Internet (pay for services of shops and banks, receive salaries, top up a mobile account, withdraw money to a bank card, etc.). Today, online currency is no less significant than paper money. There are about 10 popular payment systems on the Internet, not counting their lesser-known competitors. Before using the services of an electronic system, carefully study its features.

1. . It is one of the most famous electronic systems on the Internet and the main tools for exchanging money and conducting transactions with online currency in the CIS. To use WebMoney Transfer on a computer or mobile phone, you must install one of the keeper services offered by the system, entering your real data. For greater confidence, it is advisable to obtain a personal passport by sending your passport data to the address specified in WebMoney Transfer. At your service is the widest user interface, many functions, capabilities and operations performed instantly. Particular attention should be paid to the exchanger and the interest charged. It is much more profitable to exchange currencies through similar services on the Internet.

2. . The second most popular payment system in the CIS allows you to safely exchange and transfer online currency to other users, saving, as in the case of WebMoney Transfer, all transfer data. By opening Yandex.Wallet or Internet.Wallet, you can use the interface on the Web or on a PC. There are no transfers between your two wallets.

3. International payment system. One of the most famous electronic services in the world, which has gathered more than 100 million users under its wing, celebrates its birthday in the same year as WebMoney Transfer - 1998. The owner of PayPal is the Californian company "Palo Alto". In order for your online currency to work, you must register a “Personal Account” or “Personal Premier Account”. Larger clients open a “Business Account”. You can use PayPal using your PC, Internet, or mobile phone. Russians and Ukrainians can use this payment system only to pay for purchases. Online currency cannot be withdrawn or accepted from other users.

4. (RUpay). The unified payment platform operates in real time and allows you to carry out any transactions with electronic money quickly and safely. Unlike WebMoney Transfer, you don’t have to worry about forgetting your details in your notepad at home. The main purpose of RUpay is payment of payments and purchases on the Internet, withdrawal of money to the accounts of Ukrainian or Russian banks. RBK Money itself does not provide banking services.

5. [email protected]. The system was limited to only a web interface. Payments are made from any PC, and the identifier is an email address.

6. Rapida. Initially, she collaborated only with financial and credit institutions. Rapida's processing center is connected to the enterprise's billing system. Essentially, Rapida is a 24-hour service for accepting payments for telephones, utilities, etc. The system allows you to set an interval for monthly payments.

7. E-Gold appeared 2 years earlier than the payment systems WebMoney Transfer and PayPal. The security of more than 1,000,000 E-Gold accounts is guaranteed by Swiss and US banks. This service is a universal tool that allows you to exchange and transfer currencies in any country in the world. The most indispensable payment system uses weight parts of palladium, silver, gold and platinum to exchange monetary units. E-Gold is an ideal option for serious businessmen who have dedicated themselves to online commerce.

8. (Skrill). This young payment system (2003) operates in accordance with UK legislation. The peculiarity of the system is that its users can easily, safely and cheaply exchange, transfer money and make payments on the Internet in real time. Operations are carried out via e-mail. The national currency with which you intend to work should be selected during registration. Moneybookers only shows your real details. No software installation required. So, send money from your bank card, receive online currency by e-mail and make any purchases on the Internet.

9. . Another young electronic payment system (2005), registered in Quebec (Canada). Alertpay's democratic nature allows it to become more and more popular, gaining the trust of users. Registration in the system is free for all citizens of the world. Only residents of Angola, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia cannot use the services. Small commissions are charged for all transactions with online currency.

10. . The payment system was able to successfully integrate many types of electronic payments and transactions into one seamless, logical system, which is easy and convenient to work with. Unlike the listed services, Z-PAYMENT does not compete with other electronic systems, but cooperates with them. By registering for free, you will be able to work with any payment systems and banks, performing various operations using both non-cash and cash payments. Guaranteed security, the absence of special software for users, the ability to enter into contracts, round-the-clock support - this is Z-PAYMENT, which is predicted to be a huge success.

11. Google Checkout- payment system from Google. Linking to the client's bank card is required. For now, only residents of the UK and US can use the service. In fact, Google Checkout does not process payments, but guarantees their security. The operations themselves are carried out using bank cards of system users.

12. . Another convenient and secure service for instant electronic payments online. It is multifunctional: the system allows not only to carry out mutual settlements between registered users and make various types of electronic payments, but also has its own deposit program, which makes it possible to safely store electronic currency in accounts and receive monthly interest payments on the balance of funds. The advantages of Perfect Money include a high level of security and 24-hour technical support.

13. . The main purpose of this Russian payment service, operating today in 20 countries around the world, is instant payment for various types of services, from utility bills to bank loans. The key difference between QIWI and other similar financial services is that you can transfer funds not only from a personal account on the Internet or through a mobile application, but also through special self-service payment terminals, which today can be found in most localities in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries.

14. . An electronic payment system originally from Canada, operating on the global market for electronic financial transactions since 2005. Simple and free registration will allow you to open an account in the system quickly and without unnecessary problems. Account verification for residents of some countries is quite problematic, but the account can be successfully used without verification, since it is voluntary. AlertPay uses the e-mail specified during registration as an identifier (wallet number). At the same time, it is possible to transfer funds to users who do not yet have an account with AlertPay.

15. . The first Belarusian non-bank system of instant electronic micropayments, which allows you to quickly and without commissions pay for utilities, mobile communications, Internet and television, as well as various other types of services using a plastic card linked to a digital wallet. In addition, the system makes it possible to carry out various banking operations, but transfers of funds of a commercial nature are not allowed here (money transfers between individuals - owners of EasyPay wallets are carried out without problems with a 2% commission). It has been operating on the market since 2004, and in 2010 EasyPay entered the Ukrainian online payment market.

16. . Ukrainian open payment service designed for transferring money, as well as making various kinds of micropayments and online payment for a wide range of services. The founder and owner of LiqPay is the Ukrainian PrivatBank, which allows you to withdraw money from your account through the PrivatBank ATM network in Ukraine and Russia. A high level of security for transactions is guaranteed by the use of a dynamic one-time password service (sent via SMS to the phone number linked to a personal account) and 3D Secure code technology.

17. . Unified Wallet W1 is another convenient and reliable electronic service that allows registered users to make transfers between wallets without additional commission, as well as easily and quickly pay for various types of services. Access to a single wallet is carried out through any means of digital communication with an Internet connection (computers, mobile phones, PDAs). It has a wide affiliate network, which makes it possible to make profitable, commission-free payments for a wide range of goods and services.

18. . A multi-currency payment system, which can be classified as a service with electronic currencies based on the gold equivalent (the closest analogue of Pecunix is ​​the well-known e-gold). Pecunix EPS, registered in Panama, has been operating in the electronic currency market for 10 years. The advantages of this payment system based on gold assets include security and reliability, but today Pecunix is ​​not very popular.

19. . An electronic payment system, popular in Russia and existing since 2004. Registration in the service is open and free; the account number here is an email address. At the moment, transactions in MoneyMail can be carried out in three types of currencies - Russian ruble, US dollar, and euro. All operations in the system are carried out through the website interface; there is no need to install additional applications. The main services include replenishing mobile accounts, making monthly payments, repaying bank loans, transferring funds to e-mail and many others.

20. . The purpose of this service is to pay for services, make money transfers and various payments via the Internet using Ukash vouchers (no bank account or card is required). You can buy a Ukash voucher for cash at specialized sales points or online using a variety of Internet services (Webmoney, W1, LiqPay, QIWI, RBK Money, etc.) One of the most popular services available to owners of Ukash vouchers is international online translations.

1. What trends in the use and development of payment instruments could you note in recent years?

Marat Abasaliev, PayOnline
Before the crisis, we experienced a steady increase in card payments - customers began to trust online shopping more and finally appreciated the convenience and benefits of online shopping.

One of the fundamentally new technologies is the introduction of contactless payments. International payment systems introduced Visa payWave and MasterCard PayPass, allowing payments to be made with one touch of the POS terminal in supermarkets and stores. It is also impossible not to note the first confident steps of world payment systems in the field of electronic wallets - V.ME from Visa, MasterPass from MasterCard. They allow you to combine several payment instruments under one “pay” button.

Don’t forget about the growth of payments from mobile devices (smartphones and tablets). According to PayOnline, in 2015, almost 40% of online shoppers made purchases from mobile devices, and in 2016, judging by the trend, more than half of payments will be made on smartphones and tablets.

P2P transfers continue to gain popularity, including through social networks and instant messengers. Many users still have doubts about the security of money transfers via messages, but data encryption is reaching a new level - instant messengers are beginning to fight for the title of “most secure” method of communication, so we can expect that this method of money transfers will soon become quite common business.

Sergey Belyaev, RFI Bank
There are not so many main trends. Firstly, business goes online: communication with clients in a language they understand and on a platform they are familiar with. Moreover, offline does not die, but is integrated into this process. Secondly, the increase in the use of contactless payments, especially in supermarkets and hypermarkets. Not only is it fashionable, it reduces checkout downtime by a few seconds. And a second on one client is already a big plus. Thirdly, the spread of mobile card readers, pinpads and other things. A small device allows you to accept a card wherever your smartphone can connect to the Internet!

Igor Nazarov, Shopolog
In recent years, a number of trends have remained stable: the growth of sales through mobile phones, the increase in the share of non-cash payments, the entry into the electronic payment market of companies that have never previously provided financial services, and the simplification of tariff schedules.

Among the latest trends, we can highlight the increased demand for customization (niche solutions) of payment services for various online stores (small, medium, large; with a call center, offline representation, subscription sales, etc.).

Maria Mikhailova, National Payments Council
Using payment cards for payments rather than cash withdrawals. In 2015, people were 41.5% more likely to use a card to pay for goods and services than in 2014 (according to the Bank of Russia). An increasingly important role in the development of infrastructure is played not by its traditional components that provide offline interaction, but by online payments: on the Internet and using mobile phones. There is currently no independent data that would allow us to see not only the state of the national payment system at the macro level, but also to track consumer payment behavior.

Dmitry Spiridonov, CloudPayments
The trend is everything related to mobile phones. Recurring and recurring payments, adaptive form for any device, card linking to NFC technology, custom solutions for online business, without dependence on payment systems and PCI DSS.

Vyacheslav Fedorov, e-MoneyNews
Over the past 2 years, investments have been seen in payment technologies related to QR codes, mobile payments via NFC solutions, and the use of an account with a telecom operator as a source of payment for small transaction amounts both online and offline.

Vitaly Tsigulev, Digital Finance
Firstly, the entry of many fintech startups into the market, their confrontation and partnership with traditional banks. For example, in the field of accepting payments on websites, banks have long lost their primacy to Internet companies. According to some studies, only 10% of merchants are directly connected to accepting payments through a bank, while the rest work with payment gateways or payment aggregators. But in the Russian realities of very careful regulation of all processes related to money, it is quite difficult for startups to develop without being an independent bank, its part or an NPO. Secondly, probably the main trend is blockchain (a chain of connected blocks, each of which contains a hash of the previous one and is processed on distributed servers). One of the first large-scale implementations of this technology on the Russian market was recently launched by the National Settlement Depository: the organization switched to a blockchain system for electronic voting of bondholders. Not everyone fully understands distributed registry technology yet, and how exactly it should be applied in each specific case, but listening to experts and following Western colleagues, more and more large financial organizations are starting to invest in this area.

2. What, in your opinion, are the most promising areas for the further development of mobile payments? For what purposes will they be used? Who will be the main user?

Marat Abasaliev, PayOnline
Mobile operators will continue to try to get subscribers hooked on using SIM cards as a payment instrument. Here we foresee serious competition with Apple Pay, a technology that allows the use of wearable devices and the smartphone as a full-fledged means of payment for both online and offline payments. Following Apple, players are emerging who provide a similar payment option via NFC in conjunction with Internet payments. In terms of functionality, Apple devices and their competitors are on the same level. The choice of users will depend on additional options, price segment and, of course, brand.

Another noticeable trend is e-commerce in social networks and instant messengers. An online store on VKontakte or Instagram will no longer surprise anyone, and until recently these social networks acted exclusively as a showcase and a channel for communication between the seller and the buyer. Now we see solutions that allow us to turn a public page or community on a social network into a full-fledged online store. This is an excellent solution for those who have built up a customer base of subscribers over several years and can now conveniently convert it into sales without redirecting customers to the online store page.

Igor Nazarov, Shopolog
The idea of ​​messenger applications in which you can chat, get all the necessary information and make a purchase looks quite interesting and promising. Most recently, the chairman of the board of directors of Yulmart, Dmitry Kostygin, announced the creation of a similar messenger for purchasing goods. With the global development of mobile technologies and instant messengers, we can soon expect the integration of payment instruments into the popular applications WhatsApp, Facebook, Viber, Telegram and others.

More holistically, mobile payments need to be used in conjunction with other important elements of e-commerce - loyalty, special offers and rewards.

Maria Mikhailova, National Payments Council
First of all, the mobile phone will replace self-service banking terminals. Secondly, the phone becomes a material carrier for a bank card. The less effort required from a person to “turn” a payment card into a “phone,” the greater the chance that payments of small amounts and those made in a “hurry” will be made by “phone.” This is payment for business lunches, taxis, and everyday purchases. The third is payments using funds in the account with the telecom operator. Mobile communications, parking, p2p transfers.

Dmitry Spiridonov, CloudPayments
The tourism segment, air tickets, car sharing, and medical services are gaining momentum.

Vyacheslav Fedorov, e-MoneyNews
Mobile payments are different from each other, and each type is promising in its own market segment. Firstly, mobile payments, which allow payers to operate a subscriber account with a telecom operator, and are used for payments both on various sites (games, online cinemas, online stores) and offline (vending machines, TV shows, paid parking etc.). Secondly, mobile payments, which use a bank account as a source of money and an NFC chip as a payment interface. The latter allows you to use a fairly extensive payment network of Visa and MasterCard, built thanks to the banking network for accepting payments (shops, transport, vending machines, etc.).

For the most part, mobile tools are now used by “innovators”, and in some segments by so-called “early adopters”. The main growth in demand for the “early majority” will come later. One of the drivers of growth will be bookmaker companies that are allowed to collect bets via the Internet, providing their services online.

Vitaly Tsigulev, Digital Finance
An important trend is the emergence of mobile payment systems such as Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay. I would not write about this if it were not for three events that took place one after the other at approximately equal intervals. First, Samsung announced the launch of its payment service in Russia in the middle of this year, then information leaked that Apple was negotiating with leading Russian banks to launch its wallet at the end of 2016, and then Yandex.Money announced that you can now pay using NFC, using MasterCard Cloud-Based Payments (MCBP) technology directly from the mobile application and account in your Yandex.Money account.

3. What are the main limiting factors for the growth of the payment instruments market and possible ways to combat them?

Marat Abasaliev, PayOnline
All attention is now focused on the banking sector. Acquiring banks, direct participants in the processing of payments, are currently experiencing stricter influence from the regulator in the person of the Central Bank of Russia. Those processors and payment aggregators who, in the pursuit of profit, chose less reliable banks as partners, giving more “interesting” commission rates, today risk being left without acquiring banks at all. The moment a bank loses its license, the payment aggregator rushes to find a new partner, but even a week’s downtime leads to an outflow of customers. The concentration of players is growing, the market is monopolizing, and online stores are the first to suffer - they go to new payment partners on different terms and again spend time and money connecting to a new partner. The current crisis is causing the e-commerce market to take a step back - sellers are leaning back in favor of cash payments, reducing their costs.

The solution that will be most effective at the moment is a constructive dialogue between the Central Bank, the Electronic Money Association and professional market participants. The payment instruments market still has a long way to go - it is necessary to simplify and optimize many processes, but due to the influence of many third-party factors, this is not as fast and easy as everyone would like.

Sergey Belyaev, RFI Bank
The main limiting factor to the growth in the number and quality of tools is the incomplete understanding of these tools on the part of users. It is indicative that the majority of Russians withdraw money from their salary card on the very first day of their accrual. And we should rather not fight this, but rather work with the population to help, remove objections and explain all the advantages.

Igor Nazarov, Shopolog
Currently, there are no particular constraining factors that could fundamentally affect the payment instruments industry. Retail and payment solutions go hand in hand; the development of the former necessarily affects the latter. The desire to provide quality goods and service is always rewarded with sales. The same applies to payment solutions - how convenient, understandable, and profitable the service is, the more in demand it is.

Maria Mikhailova, National Payments Council
It is more correct to talk about the growth of non-cash turnover. The concept of a market is redundant in relation to payment instruments. A payment instrument is simply a way to initiate a payment and, by and large, it doesn’t matter exactly how this happens: a person inserts a card into a POS terminal or the kettle itself generates a debit according to a given algorithm to pay for the energy it consumes.

Non-cash turnover should be recognized as a priority of economic policy. Only then will it be possible to use the obvious advantage of non-cash payment: its electronic nature, ensuring its complete transparency, which is not used today. Non-cash payment will become economically profitable due to paperless interaction with the buyer and control authorities, reducing the cost of administering payments and other things. This will provide an incentive for the development of all forms of payment instruments. The payment instruments segment must be extremely competitive. Only fierce market competition in this area will ensure the quality and safety of payment services for consumers. And the third important component is that it is necessary to build a modern infrastructure for identifying payers. Anonymous payments will quickly become a thing of the past.

Dmitry Spiridonov, CloudPayments
Firstly, payment technologies with innovative solutions are difficult to access for small and medium-sized e-commerce businesses. Large, historically established players in the payment market do not undertake to solve the needs of newly created projects, startups, small and medium-sized companies, especially without confirmed turnover. Or they solve them incompletely and for an additional fee.

Secondly, large e-commerce businesses do not have a simple solution that allows them to independently manage their payment infrastructure without obtaining a PCI DSS security certificate. At the same time, any need to change the payment solution (customization, design, placement, field adjustments, etc.) requires the preparation of a separate technical specification, followed by labor-intensive implementation on the side of the payment service.

Thirdly, low conversion of payments. The reason lies in many details, including cumbersome anti-fraud protection settings, rules on the side of the payment service itself, as well as an outdated and incorrect payment process algorithm: with extra fields, steps, transitions, etc.

Fourthly, the lack of a full set of payment instruments in one solution for accepting bank cards online, with 100% confirmed working cases. Often the technical capabilities declared by existing payment services are not implemented in practice, or are only at the development stage.

Finally, existing processing centers do not have modern fault-tolerance technologies, while they are constantly being developed and implemented abroad, and in global experience this is a constant trend.

Vyacheslav Fedorov, e-MoneyNews
The limiting factor is the unwillingness of a large number of business players (retail) to switch to full transparency of their activities. Continuing to evade taxes, they accept cash for payment.

Over the past 1.5 years, the Central Bank and Rosfinmonitoring have greatly reduced the level of “cash-out”, thereby stimulating the growth of non-cash mutual settlements. In addition, the Central Bank, the banking sector, payment systems Visa, MasterCard and NSPK, as well as telecom operators are actively popularizing electronic means of payment, both through educational activities and marketing activities, and by legislatively introducing restrictions on working with cash.

4. Are there any difficulties with changing the consumer habits of users when introducing new technological solutions into payment instruments and, if so, which ones? What methods are used to influence the end user to change his habits?

Marat Abasaliev, PayOnline
If understanding the technology becomes easier - new solutions require intuitive interfaces - then problems with trust may still arise. UX has become one of the “pillars” on which payment innovations are based; sometimes it’s enough to press one button to make a purchase. But the security of data and its protection from attackers and others are called into question.

In order to convince the buyer to make a payment in one way or another, it is necessary, firstly, to give him as much information as possible about what protects him, and secondly, to enlist the support of partners - well-known brands. If a customer sees that their favorite world-famous store offers payment in a new way that many other customers have tried, their trust will likely increase. In addition, technology dictates its own conditions, for example, if you trust biometric data (fingerprints) when locking your smartphone, then you will most likely be ready to make a payment using the same method.

Igor Nazarov, Shopolog
The habit of using one or another payment instrument can only be developed through frequent positive experiences, both the user’s own and the user’s close circle of friends. Widespread distribution of the solution, confidence in a successful transaction, high-quality support - all this contributes to changing user preferences.

Another important factor is the channels and formats for conveying information about new technological solutions. Statistics show that young people aged 18–25 are the most actively trying new services and solutions. This factor must be taken into account when promoting a service.

Maria Mikhailova, National Payments Council
They arise, but do not carry any special marketing specificity. The peculiarity of payment services lies in a slightly different plane. Non-cash payment competes with cash payment not only at the level of consumer choice, but also at the “corporate” level. What benefits will the store receive from accepting new payment instruments for payment? What benefit will the company receive if accountable funds are transferred to cards rather than issued in cash? As soon as actual economic feasibility is found - and these can be a variety of motives, from strategic and image-based to reducing the cost of document management - solving the problem of consumer habits becomes a matter of competent marketing.

Dmitry Spiridonov, CloudPayments
This question should be asked to online stores. They make management decisions on any implementation of anything because this is their user audience. She trusts first of all the online store, and they know how to communicate with her.

Vyacheslav Fedorov, e-MoneyNews
Based on the Central Bank's indicators, it can be seen that consumers are increasingly using cards as a means of payment and transfer. This indicates a gradual change in the consumer’s consciousness and a decrease in mistrust in this payment instrument.

The growth rate of non-cash payments is being reduced by scammers who open fly-by-night companies (travel industry, Forex market players, builders of financial pyramids, etc.), collect payments through their websites and disappear. Cybercriminals also cause very irreparable damage to trust in electronic means of payment.

5. Do you think biometric authentication methods will be developed and, if so, in what time frame? What are the main obstacles to this?

Marat Abasaliev, PayOnline
Biometric authentication methods are already being developed. A few decades ago, such technologies were more of a fantasy than a way of life, but today we easily get fingerprinted when applying for tourist visas, and schoolchildren pay for lunches using Ladoshka, a biometric service of Sberbank, launched last year.

The main obstacles to biometrics are defensive psychology and outdated technology. Firstly, users do not want their biometric data to be included in general databases. Even those who do not plan to become an international criminal and hide from intelligence services do not like the idea of ​​getting into a corporate database and losing the opportunity to maintain privacy, because changing fingerprints or capillary patterns is much more difficult than changing a SIM card or a servicing bank.

Outdated technology is also a challenge in the small and medium b2c segment. An excellent example of the massive market transition to new technologies is how American retail outlets have been switching to point-of-sale terminals that support chip cards for many years. So it’s too early to talk about a massive transition of users to biometrics. But we are confident that projects will appear one after another, with increasing frequency, and the biometric authentication technology itself will become commonplace within 5–7 years.

Sergey Belyaev, RFI Bank
They will receive it. Undoubtedly. For example, what is a bank card? This is a way of identifying a person. It is natural to expect that identification should be simplified. Why do you need crutches in the form of a card, passport or other identifier for the identification process? Perhaps soon it will be possible to pay for purchases by blinking, shaking an electronic hand, or something else. What's stopping this? Technology and habit.

Igor Nazarov, Shopolog
Payment using an Alibaba selfie) or a fingerprint (Samsung) and so on are still technologies that require serious improvements. Transaction security is the main condition for a payment instrument. For now, these technologies can be considered as some kind of prototypes, on the basis of which in the future, perhaps, the infrastructure for biometric authentication when making online payments will be built.

Maria Mikhailova, National Payments Council
This is an obvious trend in the development of the institution of identification and authentication. The main barriers are on the socio-cultural plane. This is an area in which under no circumstances should technology be allowed to develop faster than the “mental” or “social” readiness to use it. The implementation process must proceed carefully and gradually. It is important that methods for challenging identification results and methods for protecting identity are developed in parallel. But, apparently, the necessary methods will first be developed in areas not related to payments, perhaps, for example, in medicine.

Dmitry Spiridonov, CloudPayments
Yes. There is a very cool technology created by Sberbank. Payment by palm. By the end of 2017, it will be as widespread as PayPass.

Vyacheslav Fedorov, e-MoneyNews
Already, various types of biometric authentication (fingerprint, face, voice, palm capillary pattern recognition) are being implemented around the world, and examples of these projects can be found. These are investment projects. And only market leaders who have enough funds to develop and implement these technologies can afford to implement these solutions during a crisis. As with cards, the market will have to get used to new ways of accessing finance or information.

6. How do you assess the influence of the state on the payment instruments market?

Marat Abasaliev, PayOnline
Firstly, this is the regulator of the Central Bank of Russia. Secondly, this is the influence of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications - the requirement to locate servers on the territory of the Russian Federation has greatly influenced e-commerce in our country. Thirdly, we should not forget about the state initiative aimed at protecting Russian buyers from so-called “sanctions” from international payment systems, namely the introduction of the national payment card system “Mir”. As a result, we can see the global influence of the state on the market of payment instruments, although many nuances and small points are still in question and can be interpreted in two ways from the point of view of the law.

Igor Nazarov, Shopolog
Over the past year, Internet business and online payments have received close attention from the state: many initiatives and bills, some of which seriously worry industry representatives. For example, a bill on new rules that apply to cash registers (transition to online cash registers). At the same time, the authorities plan to seriously tighten penalties for trading without cash registers. I don't think this is just a coincidence.

During the first quarter of 2016, the Central Bank revoked licenses from 37 banks. Naturally, this fact forces entrepreneurs to play it safe by connecting two or more payment solutions, to choose partners more carefully, and to study the market, since, as practice shows, even the most well-known solution can have problems.

Maria Mikhailova, National Payments Council
The influence of the state on the level of non-cash payments and the payment services market is always great. The state is one of the main beneficiaries of the high share of non-cash payments.

If we are talking specifically about payment instruments, then the legally established division of payment instruments into nationally significant and all others does not seem to be the most effective tool for the development of the Russian payment industry.

Dmitry Spiridonov, CloudPayments
Not at all. I do not see any government participation in e-commerce in a positive way, as, for example, it is done in the USA. I also don’t see any participation that is harmful.

7. What positive and negative consequences could result from the introduction of cryptocurrency into widespread circulation? What are the prospects for the development of blockchain technologies?

Marat Abasaliev, PayOnline
As German Gref noted several years ago, “cryptocurrencies are a very interesting international experiment that breaks the paradigm of currency emission.” However, today Russia is one of the most unfavorable jurisdictions for cryptocurrency users in the world: in addition to a ban on their use, the possibility of introducing criminal liability for the use of cryptocurrencies is being discussed.

From the point of view of the state and society, the possible negative consequences of using cryptocurrencies are the risk of their use in the trade in drugs, weapons, counterfeit documents and other criminal activities, as well as for money laundering, terrorist financing and uncontrolled cross-border transfer of funds and their subsequent cashing. The strengths of cryptocurrencies are obvious: complete decentralization, independence from the political and economic situation in the world, unprecedented payment security, system stability due to the growing distribution of power. It is also worth noting that bitcoins are just a convenient payment tool in the modern world. And everyone decides for themselves whether to use this tool for good or evil.

Blockchain is a very interesting and promising technology that could help solve a number of problems relevant to Russian fintech. But due to the ban on the release and use of cryptocurrencies in Russia, the creation of Russian products built using this technology is impossible. This limitation is due to the fact that today only the Bitcoin blockchain is truly secure, having both enormous computing power and a relatively uniform distribution of “miners” who are responsible for calculating complex keys.

Igor Nazarov, Shopolog
With the widespread adoption of blockchain technologies, the traditional financial services market may undergo major changes. Moreover, the question will be raised about the feasibility of the existence of banks and other services.

The Central Bank has unambiguously voiced its position regarding the blockchain: “We are for the technology with all our hands, but against money surrogates.” However, to implement the technology, we need a deep study of all the details and the creation of a legislative framework. At this point, there is still a lot of work to be done to make this vision a reality.

As for cryptocurrency, the market is adapting to the consumer, and the consumer is now looking with interest towards everything new. If the regulator makes a positive decision, the widespread popularization of cryptocurrency requires a serious push associated not only with its introduction as a payment method, but also with extensive information support.

Dmitry Spiridonov, CloudPayments
Cryptocurrency will have a pulse lifespan. It will definitely never be introduced in Russia. Blockchain technology is cool. They will definitely be used in some form.

Vyacheslav Fedorov, e-MoneyNews
Now they are trying not only to consider the use of blockchain technology, but also to actively implement it in many projects. Blockchain technology makes it possible to avoid discreet changes to information and documents, which will help many industries when working with information online.

Records in the blockchain are decentralized, stored on different computers and verified by network participants, and not by a regulatory authority.

Vitaly Tsigulev, Digital Finance
Blockchain, Bitcoin and smart contracts are certainly one of the most promising areas in modern payment technologies. It would be more correct for Russian legislators to regulate the circulation of cryptocurrencies instead of a ban, the implementation of which is impossible to control. Moreover, cryptocurrencies and blockchain are very interconnected, and often any blockchain project has its own internal currency for settlements. And it is not yet clear how to deal with the position of the Central Bank in this situation, according to which blockchain is good, and cryptocurrencies (money surrogates) are bad.

8. Are you aware of any upcoming mergers/acquisitions of players in this market? Are radical changes in the current market conditions possible? What could be the external reasons for this?

Marat Abasaliev, PayOnline
It is unlikely that we will see radical changes in the next couple of years. Competition from banks is too strong, there are several really large players in the market, and there are many small ones that have appeared due to low entry thresholds. There is a tendency towards dumping - only leaders can afford to do it, so perhaps the market will thin out - small businesses are unlikely to be able to maintain low prices for a long time during a crisis. Of course, consolidation is needed. Most likely, in the struggle for market share with the aim of synergy, it will take place among large players, and this is justified.

Igor Nazarov, Shopolog
There is a high probability that there will be mergers and acquisitions. The market is aggressive and forces development, sometimes faster than the company can afford. If this happens, then a choice arises - go into niche solutions or continue development, but perhaps in the team of a former competitor.

The situation is also fueled by competition between payment systems and acquiring banks, which are now actively developing their client divisions and are beginning to connect large companies directly.

Dmitry Spiridonov, CloudPayments
There will always be changes. The most dynamic ones, working for high-quality service, will set the trend and not let the “old guys” of the market relax.

Vyacheslav Fedorov, e-MoneyNews
Some mergers/acquisitions are now taking place as a result of banks strengthening their positions in new niches. In some cases, the situation developed in such a way that the payment system was left without an institutional foundation (the license was revoked / the bank was reorganized) and was forced to look for a strong partner and quickly carry out a transaction so as not to lose market share.

9. How are the changes taking place in the world market reflected in the Russian market?

Marat Abasaliev, PayOnline
In terms of technology, the Russian market does not lag behind, and often even outstrips, the developed markets of Europe and North America. So we can confidently say that Runet responds to the technological challenges of global fintech quickly and with dignity.

But there are issues that business does not have the opportunity to influence - these are government regulation and financial conditions of international payment systems. We have already talked about the regulation of cryptocurrencies, so we will not dwell on this issue.

An important difference between the Russian market is the financial policy of international payment systems. Unlike Europe, where the size of the interchange fee is gradually decreasing, in Russia it “stuck” at the same level. Today we do not yet have data on the conditions that the Russian payment system “Mir” will offer to players in the Russian e-commerce market, but we assume that the pricing logic itself will differ from the logic of VISA and MasterCard, and the cost for business is unlikely to be significantly lower.

Igor Nazarov, Shopolog
The devaluation of the ruble and the rise in prices of most goods in 2015 gave a new round of development to cross-border trade. Large Chinese companies are gaining a foothold in the Russian market, thereby displacing intermediaries. Regular massive discount promotions provide them with high consumer demand and widespread media coverage.

Maria Mikhailova, National Payments Council
One of the global trends is finding the right balance between the global nature of payments and the need to maintain local control over them. This trend is also relevant for the Russian market. The point is to find the right balance. It is important not to reflect the changes taking place in the global market, but to be part of this market and a source of change.

Dmitry Spiridonov, CloudPayments
We have an amazing country, and this does not allow us to talk 100% about reflecting and applying something new from the world market. A lot of things don't stick. A simple example - 3D-secure in America is not used in the same way as it is done in 99% of cases in Russia.

Vyacheslav Fedorov, e-MoneyNews
The Internet and the current situation with the ruble exchange rate allow us to enter global markets and sell goods or provide services while being in the Russian Federation. Now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity that has arisen.

10. Is it possible, in your opinion, to significantly reduce the share of cash use through the transition to non-cash payments? What are the main limiting factors for this?

Marat Abasaliev, PayOnline
Now the crisis is still playing against non-cash payments, so we cannot talk about a truly significant reduction in the share of cash use. Yes, there is certainly a growth in online payments, but in the next couple of years it will be rather inorganic due to an increase in cardholders and an increase in Internet penetration in the country. In addition, the implementation of the Mir payment system requires technical improvements to payment systems, which will take time. Most likely, the functionality of Mir in the first year will be limited to cash withdrawals, and this will also become a limiting factor for the development of online payments.

Sergey Belyaev, RFI Bank
Cash will someday be almost completely gone or degenerate, as is the case with paper books. With the rapid development of the Internet and technology, they predicted the death of the book, but death did not happen. Books have become more expensive, more beautiful, more prestigious. Paper and metal money will also be reborn.

Igor Nazarov, Shopolog
The share of non-cash payments on the Internet is increasing every year. This process is slow, but the growth is stable. Moreover, the growth occurs not only in bank cards, but also in the use of mobile devices for payment and payment systems. There is a high probability that in large cities, cashless payments will dominate over cash in a few years.

However, there are a number of factors that slow down growth: low levels of financial literacy, fear of losing control over expenses, fear of fraud. Typically, these factors are most noticeable in small and medium-sized cities.

Maria Mikhailova, National Payments Council
Non-cash payment should have obvious advantages over cash. Like a mobile phone before a landline. Due to its nature, non-cash payment is a hostage to indirect regulation, those barriers that arise at the interfaces of regulation, both in various industries and various spheres of economic life. If the level of non-cash payments is not a direct priority of government policy, then these barriers can only be removed in one way: industry analysis, the formation of an industrial position on each key limiting factor, and making changes.

Felix Muchnik, Softkey
A decrease in consumer activity leads to a search for more economical and budget-friendly places to shop. And such places quite rightly become online stores, where digital content is that very inexpensive but necessary product for the consumer. What we see: there is a product, there is money to purchase it, but there is no education in the mass consumption of legal digital content and the use of non-cash payment methods when purchasing goods and services in online stores. Yes, a lot of work has already been done in the area of ​​introducing customers to plastic cards, but there is still a very wide group of those who choose cash. And banks and small businesses should engage in this very education, creating special conditions for the transition to non-cash payments and making payments as convenient and invisible to the user as possible, thereby developing the habit of this particular payment method.

A good example of creating such conditions is the Yandex.Taxi application. In it, we simply link our card through a mobile device and use taxi services, and we do this on more favorable terms than those who choose cash. Thanks to such a system, we can talk about an increase in the number of payments using plastic. A person begins to understand how convenient such a system is, and ultimately uses it automatically. In addition, the application provides an excellent service - the ability to pay tips for the driver also using a non-cash payment. This is an amazingly simple and incredibly convenient thing that, in my opinion, should be implemented in any service sector. And first of all - to the cash register receipts of restaurants. Why has this practice become the norm all over the world for a long time, but we are still promoting cash? After all, non-cash payments are easier to control, and they easily move into the taxable zone.

Another excellent and relatively recent example is that of the Platypus company. As soon as banks were allowed to hold money on cards, Utkonos equipped its couriers with devices - terminals for instant payment on the spot using cards. And this immediately significantly reduced all sorts of inconveniences that could arise for both the buyer and the seller: a variable payment amount when paying for goods, lack of cash for payment, lack of change from the courier, no temptation to “under-deliver” the received cash, etc. The more opportunities there are to pay with plastic or any other non-cash payment method, the faster the refusal from cash will be carried out. And this growth should be ensured, as mentioned above, by banks and small enterprises. Yes, the government services portal is accustoming the residents of our country to non-cash payments, the percentage is undoubtedly growing, but the process would develop much more dynamically if, along with this, provision from banks and enterprises also developed.
Let's not go far and remember the example of purchasing air tickets, which became the first serious purchases using a non-cash payment method. People, having tried it once, began to actively use this method in the future. As soon as Russian Railways introduced the possibility of purchasing tickets using non-cash payments, people actively began purchasing tickets using this method. In my opinion, Aeroexpress generally did a wonderful thing: it offered customers to purchase tickets using non-cash payments on more favorable terms, making the cost of tickets lower than at the station ticket office.

Thus, we can state the fact that the state and consumers are least to blame for the lack of rapid growth in non-cash payments and plastic payments. And most of all, this should be facilitated by the enterprises themselves, introducing additional conditions for incentives, and by banks, which should encourage non-cash payments at enterprises.

Dmitry Spiridonov, CloudPayments
There are no limiting factors. There is a problem in the mentality of our population. The cache will die. If Central Russia pays easily on the Internet, then the population to the right of the Ural Mountains is just learning not to withdraw cash from an ATM, but to buy something in a store using their bank card.

The WebMoney electronic payment system was founded in 1998. Today, more than 5 million people use this payment system. All payments can be made in any currency, including dollar, euro, ruble or hryvnia. The list is gradually expanding. It is also possible to maintain an account in the equivalent of the value of gold. To manage your accounts, you need to register and download the WebMoney Keeper account management program. After registration, each user receives his own unique personal WMID number, which identifies him in the system. For each currency in the program there are corresponding wallets WMZ, WME, WMR and WMU. You can create additional wallets. The advantages of WM are as follows:

Sufficient protection of your funds from theft.

The ability to quickly access information on accounts and even carry out payment transactions via a PC, PDA or mobile phone.

Fast payment transactions - transfers are carried out instantly.

Other features of the system that are both advantages and disadvantages:

Dependence on the exchange rates with which WM title units are associated.

Limitation of "mobility" in the case of using standard WMKeeper (but the most reliable in comparison with other methods of managing funds).

This is in brief... At first I wanted to copy part of the description from the Webmoney website, but then I decided that it would not be interesting to those who had already registered and worked with WM. For those who are getting acquainted with this system for the first time, it is better to read the original, especially since everything there is in Russian...

Qiwi a payment service designed to pay for various everyday services, from mobile communications and housing and communal services to bank loans. A special feature of the QIWI service is that payment can be made either in cash at the QIWI network of payment terminals or through an Internet service and application for mobile devices. In fact, the user can make payments from his account in the system, being in a place convenient for him and at a convenient time.

Yandex money electronic payment system, one of the popular services of Yandex, the largest Russian portal and leading search engine in the Russian-language part of the Internet. currency - Russian rubles

RBK Money I would like to tell you about another interesting payment system - (formerly RUpay). This payment system is slightly different from those previously mentioned; it is rather a universal Internet bank, because... its activities rely significantly on banking operations with plastic cards

Single wallet– an electronic payment service that ensures financial settlements between system participants in real time and is intended to serve the needs of the population, primarily related to payment for services.

The W1 multi-platform Internet payment system allows you to pay from any mobile device or computer for the services of cellular operators, cable and satellite television, providers of various services, including housing and communal services and bank loans.

Over 450 service provider companies are partners of the Single Wallet.

June 2, 2007 is the official birthday of the “Unified Wallet” payment service. On this day, the first user of the service was registered, and on June 18 of the same year, the first payment was made in favor of the cellular operator.

The owner of the service is the company CJSC Information Processing Center (CJSC IPC), which provides services in the field of e-commerce, including payment processing based on its own payment system X-Plat.

The legal space of the “Single Wallet” system is the Russian Federation.

Until recently, the “Unified Wallet” worked only in the ruble zone, but despite this, the geography of its use is quite wide. Russian citizens from more than 88 countries around the world use the services of this electronic service.

Since February 2009, after the start of W1 SA, the official currency of payments is also the South African rand. There are plans to launch W1 USA in the dollar zone in the near future.

The funds of users of the Unified Wallet service are secured by funds placed on the settlement accounts of CJSC IPC. In fact, these funds are advance payments by users against future orders.

Relations between users of the service and the company CJSC "IPC" are regulated by the current legislation of the Russian Federation and the Agreement on the use of the Payment Service "Single Wallet", concluded in accordance with clause 2 of Art. 437 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation by agreeing to the terms of the public offer upon registration.

Z-Payment- an electronic payment system that integrates various types of payment, such as payment by SMS, bank transfers, payment by plastic card and others. In 2002, a group of developers created the Transactor technological platform, on the basis of which Z-PAY and Z-Payment were subsequently created. September 1, 2006 - Zorbit (investor) and Transactor (developer) launched the Z-PAY payment system. The system existed until April 2007, then it was transferred to the investor company without the right to change. On September 1, 2007, Transactor developers opened the Z-Payment payment system.

Any Internet user can register their wallet in the system. Calculations in Z-Payment are carried out in conventional units ZP, 1 ZP is equal to 1 ruble. With Z-Payment wallet you can make payments in online stores connected to Z-Payment, as well as pay for various services including cellular communications, satellite television, Internet provider services, etc. If the user has his own online store or paid service , he can connect payment acceptance through the system. The user can work as an individual or a legal entity.

IntellectMoney- electronic discount and payment system. Its main task is to provide users with a simple and secure way to pay for goods and services on the Internet and to provide the opportunity to receive significant discounts in retail and service enterprises.

In parallel, two directions are being developed: payment, which ensures financial settlements in real time between users (individuals and legal entities who have registered in the system and activated an account), and discount (within the framework of the cash back discount program).

All transactions are carried out only in Russian rubles. To work with the payment system, a web interface is used.

Both individuals and legal entities can register with IntellectMoney. There are two types of accounts for them: personal account and business account.

MoneyMail– an electronic payment system that allows you to pay for hosting, purchase goods and services in online stores, top up game accounts in online casinos, pay bills for housing and communal services and telephone services, pay providers for the Internet or for cellular communications, use credit cards of Russian banks , as well as issue invoices and send money to any e-mail.

The main purpose of the system is the development of a software package with the help of which Russian banks will be able to offer the entire range of technologically advanced banking products to a wide audience of Internet users.

The owner of MoneyMail is the company Moneymail CJSC, the controlling stake of which belongs to the investment holding FINAM. November 24, 2004 is the official launch day of the Russian payment system MoneyMail.

CyberPlat ® (“CyberPlat”) is a processing company, an integrated payment system, the largest payment acceptance network in Russia and the CIS countries in terms of scale. At the end of 2009, there were more than 400,000 payment acceptance points, of which more than 230,000 were in Russia and the CIS countries, 170,000 were in the largest cities of foreign countries. At these payment acceptance points you can make cash payments to more than 650 operators (providers) of various services. CyberPlat ® (“CyberPlat”) is historically the first Russian payment system - on March 18, 1998, the first transaction was made in favor of the Garant-Park company, and on August 12, 1998, the first on-line payment via the Internet in favor of the mobile operator Beeline.

ICQMoney - electronic payment system, integrated to popular Instant Messenger clients (Miranda, Imadering, Delta Key Instant Messanger, QIP and others ). Payment for services and transfer of funds from one account to another is carried out directly through the messenger interface.The system was first launched at the end 2007. Today, ICQMoney users have the opportunity to top up their mobile account, transfer virtual funds to other ICQ users, and pay bills for goods and services in online stores. Account replenishment is available from other electronic payment systems and through terminals.If you do not want to install an additional plugin for ICQ, each user can carry out transactions in their personal virtual account. Today, ICQMoney uses three currencies: Ukrainian hryvnia, Russian ruble and Moldovan leu.

Paycash -electronic payment system. PayCash is a Russian high-tech project in the field of e-commerce. The system allows you to make instant, secure and provable payments through an open data network.

Electronic money is the monetary obligations of the organization that issued it (the issuer), located on electronic media under the control of users.

Main features of electronic money:

• carrying out issuance in electronic form;
• storage on electronic media;
• the issuer's guarantees for their provision with ordinary funds;
• their recognition as a means of payment not only by the issuer, but also by a number of other organizations.

To clearly understand what electronic money is, it is necessary to distinguish it from the non-cash form of traditional money (the latter is issued by the central banks of various countries, and they also establish the rules for their circulation).

Credit cards, which are only a means of managing a bank account, have nothing to do with electronic money. All transactions when using cards are carried out with ordinary money, albeit in non-cash form.

The history of electronic money

The idea of ​​electronic payment systems appeared in the 80s of the twentieth century. It was based on the inventions of David Shaum, who founded the DigiCash company in the USA, whose main task was to introduce electronic money circulation technologies.

The idea was quite simple. The system carries out operations with electronic coins, which are files-obligations of the issuer with his electronic signature. The purpose of the signature was similar to the purpose of the security elements of paper bills.

Principles of operation of electronic money systems

For the successful operation of this payment instrument, it is necessary that organizations selling goods and providing services be willing to accept electronic money as payment. This condition was ensured by the issuer’s guarantees for the payment of amounts in real currency in exchange for electronic coins put into circulation by it.

In a simplified form, the system’s functioning diagram can be represented as follows:

• The client transfers real currency to the issuer's account, receiving in return a file banknote (coin) for the same amount minus a commission. This file confirms the issuer's debt obligations to its holder;
• The client uses electronic coins to pay for goods and services in organizations that are ready to accept them;
• The latter return these files to the issuer, receiving real money from him in return.

With this organization of work, each party benefits. The issuer receives his commission. Trading enterprises save on costs associated with cash handling (storage, collection, cashier work). Customers receive discounts due to lower costs from sellers.

Advantages of electronic money:

• Unitability and divisibility. When making payments there is no need for change.
• Compactness. Storage does not require additional space or special mechanical protection devices.
• No need for recounting or transportation. This function is performed automatically by payment and electronic money storage tools.
• Minimum emission costs. There is no need to mint coins or print banknotes.
• Unlimited service life due to resistance to wear.

The advantages are obvious, but, as usual, there are no difficulties.

Flaws:

• The circulation of electronic money is not regulated by uniform laws, which increases the likelihood of abuse and arbitrariness;
• The need for special payment and storage tools;
• For a relatively short period of operation, reliable means of storing and protecting electronic money from counterfeiting have not been developed;
• Limited application due to the unwillingness of all sellers to accept electronic payments;
• The difficulty of converting funds from one electronic payment system to another;
• Lack of government guarantees confirming the reliability of the issuer and electronic money as such.

Storage and use of electronic money

Online wallet– this is software designed for storing electronic funds and carrying out transactions with them within one system.

Who organizes the functioning of these systems and issues electronic money?

Electronic money issuers

Requirements for issuers vary from country to country. In the EU, issues are carried out by electronic money institutions - a new special class of financial institutions. In accordance with the legislation of a number of countries, including India, Mexico, Ukraine, only banks have the right to engage in this activity. In Russia - both banks and non-banking financial organizations, subject to their obtaining a license.

Electronic payment systems in Russia

Let's look at the most popular domestic systems and give answers to questions about how to buy and how to cash out electronic money in each of them.

The largest operators are Yandex.Money and WebMoney, their total share exceeds 80% of the market, but there are also PayPal, Moneybookers, and Qiwi...

"WebMoney"

"WebMoney", positioning itself as an "international payment system", was founded in 1998. Its owner is WM Transfer Ltd. It is registered in London, but technical services and the Main Certification Center are located in Moscow.

Transactions are carried out with electronic equivalents of a number of currencies.

For each of them, the guarantor is legal entities registered in various countries: Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland, UAE, Ireland and Belarus.

For work, the electronic wallet “WebMoney Keeper” is used, which can be downloaded from the company’s website. There are also instructions for its installation, registration and use. The program allows you to operate in equivalents of US dollars (WMZ), Russian rubles (WMR), euros (WME), Belarusian rubles (WMB) and Ukrainian hryvnia (WMU). The circulation of gold is provided, the unit of measurement of which is 1 electron gram (WMG).

To carry out operations, you need to register in the system and obtain a participant certificate, of which there are 12 types.

A higher level of certification provides greater opportunities in work.

When making transactions, the payer is charged a commission in the amount of 0.8% of the transfer amount. It is possible to use various types of payment protection. All controversial issues are resolved by Arbitration.

Here are the ways to deposit electronic money into a wallet:

• bank, postal or telegraphic transfer;
• through the Western Union system;
• purchasing a prepaid card;
• by depositing cash at exchange offices;
• through electronic terminals;
• from electronic wallets of other system participants.

All of the above methods involve the payment of commissions. It is least profitable to deposit money through terminals and buy prepaid cards.

How to cash out electronic money in the WebMoney system? You can use the following methods:

• transfer to a bank account from your electronic wallet;
• using the services of an exchange office;
• through the Western Union system.

There are virtual points where it is possible to automatically exchange one electronic currency for another at a specified rate, although the system does not formally take part in this.

Since 2009, the use of WebMoney has been prohibited by law in Germany. This prohibition also applies to individuals.

"Yandex money"

The system has been operating since 2002. It provides settlements between participants in Russian rubles. The owner of the system, Yandex.Money LLC, sold 75% of the shares to Sberbank of Russia in December 2012.

Two types of accounts are used:

• "Yandex.Wallet", which is accessible via a web interface;
• "Internet. “Wallet” is an account with which transactions are carried out using a special program. Its development was stopped in 2011.

Currently, new users can only open Yandex. Wallet."

Yandex.Money users can pay for housing and communal services, pay for fuel at gas stations, and make purchases in online stores.

The advantage of Yandex.Money is the absence of commissions for most purchases and account replenishment. For transactions within the system it is 0.5%, and for withdrawals – 3%. Yandex.Money partners, when accepting payments and withdrawing funds, can set commissions at their own discretion.

Significant disadvantages are the inability to conduct business activities through the system and strict limits on the amount of payments.

You can top up Yandex.Wallet in several ways:

• converting electronic money of other systems;
• by bank transfers;
• through payment terminals;
• depositing cash at points of sale;
• through the Unistream and Contact systems;
• from a prepaid card (cards have now been discontinued, but activation of previously purchased ones is possible).

You can cash out the electronic money system in this way:

• transfer to a card or bank account;
• receiving from a Yandex.Money card at an ATM;
• through the transfer system.

The main share of the electronic money circulation market in Russia falls on WebMoney and Yandex.Money; the role of other systems is much less significant. Therefore, we will consider only their characteristic features.

"PayPal"

"PayPal" is the world's largest electronic payment system, created in 1998 in the USA and has more than 160 million users. It allows you to receive and send transfers, pay bills and purchases.

For Russian participants, accepting payments became possible only in October 2011, and withdrawals have so far been carried out only to American banks. These circumstances significantly reduce the popularity of the system among domestic users.

The planned conclusion of an agreement between PayPal and Russian Post may improve the situation, but this is a matter of long-term prospects.